Tray or pan

ABSTRACT

A tray or pan having a base for holding fluid with a pouring spout on the base for draining the fluid therefrom into an open container and support slots or securing apertures on the base for engagement with the container for supporting the tray in such position on the container as to facilitate hands-free use.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to trays or pans for holding fluid such as paint or stain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A wide variety of trays or pans is available for holding fluid such as paint or stain for use with roller applicators. However, they are deficient in that they provide no means for quickly and easily draining the fluid therefrom into an open container such as a paint can or bucket while also incorporating support means for supporting the tray in a position upon the open end of the container for facilitating the drainage of fluid from the tray while leaving free the hands of a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the invention is to provide a tray or pan for holding fluid such as paint or stain and having drainage means for quickly and easily draining fluid therefrom into an open container such as a paint can or bucket.

Another object is to provide a tray or pan incorporating support means for supporting the tray in a position upon the open end of a container such as a paint can or bucket for facilitating the drainage of fluid from the tray while leaving free the hands of a user.

It is a further object to provide a tray or pan having drainage means which is disposed intermediate support means which is engageable with the rim of an open container such as a paint can or bucket.

As another feature of the invention, the pan or tray incorporates drainage means and support means which are disposed adjacent a corner of the tray or pan for facilitating drainage of fluid therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a tray or pan embodying a preferred form of the invention in a use or operative position on a container;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top perspective view of the tray or pan of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, top perspective view of the tray and container of FIG. 1, with a portion of the container broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the front or pouring edge corner of the tray or pan of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 3, a tray or pan, generally indicated by 10, embodying the invention is shown in use with a container, generally indicated by 12.

Container 12, which may be a conventional paint can or bucket, has a cylindrical upright sidewall 14 which terminates at its lower end in a bottom wall 16 and terminates at its upper end in a horizontally inwardly-extending rim 18 which circumscribes an open top 20. When container 12 is not in use, open top 20 may be dosed in the usual manner by a cover, not shown.

Tray or pan 10 includes a base, generally indicated by 22, for holding paint or stain and may include a roller platform 24 for engagement by a paint roller, not shown, for removal of excess paint or stain from the roller, in usual manner.

Tray 10 may be thermoformed or molded from thermoplastic material or may be fabricated from lightweight metal or sturdy cardboard material.

Base 22 of tray 10 is substantially rectangular in plan and comprises a substantially horizontally-extending bottom wall 26, spaced, parallel first and second end walls 28 and 30 respectively, each of which extends substantially vertically upwardly from an adjacent end edge of bottom wall 26, and spaced, parallel first and second side walls 32 and 34 respectively, each of which extends substantially vertically upwardly from an adjacent side edge of bottom wall 26.

First side wall 32 of base 22 connects at one of its ends to an adjacent end of first end wall 28 and connects at its opposite end to the adjacent end of second end wall 30.

Second side wall 34 of base 22 connects at one of its ends to an adjacent end of first end wall 28 and connects at its opposite end to an adjacent end of second end wall 30.

A continuous peripheral lip, generally indicated by 36, is formed integrally with base 22 and includes: a front edge portion 36A which extends horizontally-outwardly from the upper edge of first end wall 28; a first side edge portion 36B which extends horizontally-outwardly from the upper edge of first side wall 32; a rear edge portion 36C which extends horizontally-outwardly from the upper edge of second end wall 30; and a second side edge portion 36D which extends horizontally-outwardly from the upper edge of second side wall 34.

The adjacent ends of front edge portion 36A and first side edge portion 36B of peripheral lip 36 meet to form a drainage corner, generally indicated by 38, which is bisected by a pouring spout 39 in the form of a first groove or depression 39A provided in lip 36 which extends angularly inwardly across the corner and merges at its inner end with a second upright groove or depression 39B formed at the junction of first end wall 28 and first side wall 32 of base 22.

Support means in the form of slots or securing apertures generally indicated by 42, are provided for releasably mounting tray 10 on the open top 20 of container 12 for draining fluid from the tray into the container and comprise a front support slot or securing aperture 42A which is spaced to the right of pouring spout 39 and extends inwardly at an acute angle from the outer edge of front edge portion 36A of peripheral lip 36 and a side support slot or securing aperture 42B which is spaced to the left of pouring spout 39 and extends inwardly at an acute angle from the outer edge of first side edge portion 36B of peripheral lip 36.

The support slots or securing apertures 42A and 42B are identical and each includes spaced, parallel, upper and lower side walls 44 and 46 respectively, and an inner base wall 48 which connects between and is disposed normal to side walls 44 and 46. A reinforcing rib 50 is provided adjacent each support slot 42A and 42B and extends angularly across peripheral lip portions 36A and 36B for strengthening the area adjacent each of the slots.

The support slots or securing apertures 42A and 42B extend in opposite angular directions and are so located on peripheral lip 36 of tray 10 as to mate with the upper rim 18 of container 12 when the tray is mounted on the container, with upper side walls 44 of each slot bearing on the top surface of the rim, lower side walls 46 of each slot bearing on the bottom surface of the rim, and inner base wall 48 of each slot bearing against the inner edge of the rim which defines container opening 20.

The support slots or securing apertures 42A and 42B and pouring spout 39 are disposed on the same plane with the pouring spout being located intermediate the slots so as to be framed thereby thus facilitating mounting of tray 10 on container 12 and facilitating pouring fluid from the tray into the container.

In use, tray 10 is placed at an upright angle as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 with drainage corner 38 and pouring spout 39 of the tray inserted into the open top 20 of container 12 for draining fluid from the tray into the container and with the support slots or securing apertures 42A and 42B of the tray being engaged with the upper rim 18 of the container for supporting the tray without the necessity of the user holding the tray in such upright position. With the tray so supported, the user may use a paintbrush or the like for moving fluid from the tray through drainage corner 38. The tray may be allowed to stand alone in such upright, hands-free position for any desired period of time while fluid drains therefrom into the container. 

1. A tray or pan comprising, a base for holding fluid, drainage means on the base for draining fluid therefrom into an open container and, support means on the base for supporting the fray in such position on the container as to facilitate the drainage of fluid therefrom while leaving free the hands of a user.
 2. A tray or pan according to claim 1, wherein the drainage means and support means are disposed on a peripheral lip provided on the base.
 3. A tray or pan according to claim 1, wherein the drainage means comprises a pouring spout.
 4. A tray or pan according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprise slots formed in the peripheral lip and engageable with a rim of the container.
 5. A fray or pan according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprise spaced oppositely angled slots formed in the peripheral lip and engageable with a rim of the container.
 6. A tray or pan according to claim 1, wherein the drainage means and support means are disposed on the same plane at a corner of the base with the support means framing the drainage means.
 7. A fray or pan comprising, a base for holding fluid, a peripheral lip on the base, drainage means on the lip for draining fluid from the base into an open container and, support means comprising slots formed in the lip for supporting the tray in such position on the container as to facilitate the drainage of fluid from the fray while leaving free the hands of a user.
 8. A fray or pan according to claim 7, wherein the slots are angularized and disposed at spaced locations on the lip and engageable with a rim of the container.
 9. A tray or pan according to claim 7, wherein the drainage means and the support means are disposed on the same plane and the drainage means is located adjacent the support means at a corner of the base with the support means framing the drainage means.
 10. A tray or pan according to claim 7, wherein the slots are oppositely angled and disposed at spaced locations on the lip and engageable with a rim of the container.
 11. A method of supporting a tray or pan on an open top container for hands-free draining of fluid from the tray into the container comprising, providing slots on a peripheral lip of the tray, and so locating the slots as to be engageable with a rim on the open top of the container.
 12. A paint tray capable of hands-free drainage into a paint can, comprising: a base; an upturned wall, said upturned wall extending about a periphery of said base. a pair of securing apertures formed in said upturned wall; and wherein said apertures support said base at an inclined angle when said apertures are engaged with a lid of said paint can. 